So there s/he is, the person of your dreams, just across the bar. If only there was a way to break the ice in a way that wasn't A) creepy or B) lame.

Never fear, the answer lies in science ... wait! Keep reading! Because the answer lies in science and alcohol.

How you get yourself over to dream girl/guy is up to you, but once you do, offer to buy a round of whiskey shots. Make sure to also order a bottle of water. Once the shots arrive, announce to the group that you can change the water into whiskey.

Then do so to, right in front of their doubting eyes. Here's how:

Step 1. Throw back one of the shots of whiskey so you have an empty glass. Fill it with water.

Step 2. Grab a second shot of whiskey (make sure it's in an identical shot glass).

Step 3. Slap a playing card or beer mat on top of the glass filled with water, then turn this glass upside down on the shot glass filled with the alcohol.

Step 4. Line up the two glasses so that they're directly on top of one another.

Step 5. Slowly pull the card/beer mat off to the side so a tiny gap forms between the two glasses.

Step 6. Sit back and wait for the whiskey and water to switch places.

Step 7. Accept the crowd's adoration.

If anyone's still sober enough to care, you can now also impress everyone with your smarts by explaining how the trick works. Since the water is more dense than the alcohol (meaning the water molecules are more closely packed together so there are more of them in the same-sized shot glass), they will head down, pushing the alcohol up. Fancy word alert! This is called displacement. Given enough time, the whiskey and water will switch places.

A few caveats before you try this trick in public: First, be prepared to buy a few rounds while you wait, as this could take as long as 10 minutes. Also, make sure you practise, practise, practise at home both sober and after having enjoyed a few sips of your experimental material.

It will earn you no favours if you spill booze over the person you're trying to impress. Also practise getting the shot glasses apart again, so your switcheroo can be verified. And be sure to keep the gap between the two glasses small or else the alcohol and water will mix, ruining a perfectly good shot and your chances with the object of your affection.

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